Theatre Company of Saugus stages ‘Lost in Yonkers’

Wednesday

Feb 22, 2017 at 8:00 AM

By Neil ZolotSaugus@wickedlocal.com

Two young actors handle large roles effectively in the Theatre Company of Saugus production of Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers.” In the play, Saugonian James Cormier, 16, and Zach Perry of Lynn, 12, play brothers left by their father to live with their cranky grandmother and other odd relatives in 1942. The roles keep them on stage for the vast majority of the play, particularly the first act.

“It took a lot of practice and perseverance,” Perry said.

Cormier likened taking on such a large role to growing up as an actor.

The play’s first weekend of performances were Feb. 17-19 upstairs in the American Legion Post, 44 Taylor St. There will be additional performances Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.

The show won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play in 1991. A film version was made in 1993. It is not a typical Neil Simon play, however, with more drama than comedy, although there is humor and a satisfactory resolution. There is an element of nostalgia in the work; Simon was born in 1927 and was a young teenager in 1942.

“The content goes back to its time,” Cormier said. “It’s authentic for its time.”

For “Lost in Yonkers,” the action was set in one corner of the American Legion function room with seats crossing the floor diagonally. The layout provided a realistic backdrop for the action and lengthened the room to provide more seating.

When the play calls for the actors to look out a window, they use the actual window in the room.

“We embraced the look of the room,” Director Ryan Began said. “It took a little ingenuity because it’s not a real theater.”

“We’re trying out different things,” Theatre Company of Saugus actor and producer Larry Segel added. “We considered three-quarter round for ‘Lost in Yonkers’ but it’s hard to play in more than one direction. You always have your back to someone.”

“Lost in Yonkers” is Began’s first directorial assignment for Theatre Company of Saugus.

“I’ve done a lot of assistant directing and was looking for more when I saw the post for a director,” he said.

In addition to modern plays, Began worked on a number of classic operas for the Boston Early Music Festival.

Cast members include Sharon Beeler as the grandmother, Bridget Conway as Aunt Gert, Sean Perry as Uncle Louie, Angela Rossi as Aunt Bella and Andrew Quinney as Eddie, the boys’ father.

“The cast is wonderful together,” Cormier feels. “We’re all on point and have good chemistry.”

Veteran Theatre Company of Saugus actor Bobby Imperato attended the show’s first performance as a spectator.

“I loved it,” he said. “The design was great with a good use of space.”

The next Theatre Company of Saugus play will be “Nunsense 2: The Second Coming,” scheduled for mid-May. Their annual Youth Theater Workshop will take place in May.

The 2017-18 season will include a Halloween show of some kind in October, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in December, “Almost, Maine” in early 2018 and “Nunsense Jamboree” that spring.